Want to know what kind of housing estate agents may be selling in the 2030s?

Housing Minister Christopher Pincher gave us a glimpse as he announced the six finalists in a competition to design the homes of the future.

The Home of 2030 competition encourages the best and brightest talents of the housing industry to design environmentally friendly homes that support people in leading independent, fulfilling lives as our society ages.

Home of 2030 applicants had to submit an outline design for homes that are:

• Age-friendly and inclusive – appealing to a variety of age groups and adaptable to how needs will change as people become older;
• Have low environmental impact – applying technology and construction techniques to deliver net zero carbon emissions;
• Promote healthy living – promoting better health and wellbeing, such as through access to green spaces and communal areas; and
• Deliverable & scalable – homes that can be rolled-out across the country.

The six finalists and their designs are:

changebuilding with Perpendicular Architecture, Humblebee, ECOSystems Technologies and Arup: Homes that seek to reduce carbon emissions and social interaction, including through food grown in communal spaces and areas such as ponds to promote biodiversity.

HLM Architects with the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre and Green Build: Homes built using interchangeable parts with other homes, creating a circular economy in which little is wasted.

Igloo Regeneration with Useful Projects, Expedition Engineers and Mawson Kerr Architects: homes with simple frame structures and standardised components set amidst walkable, vibrant neighbourhoods.

Openstudio Architects Ltd: three building elements (a standardised housing module, an open ‘Loft’ and a circulation, storage and shared module) are used in combination with three landscape elements (communal green space, small private gardens or upper level balconies and terraces, and front gardens) to create combinations of sustainable, age-friendly spaces.

Outpost Architects and team: Janus, a home constructed from 98% organic biomass material (primarily timber and straw).

Studio OPEN:promoting community and caring for others through a central garden shared between four homes that are built with locally sourced materials and timber construction methods to reduce environmental impact.

A winner will be chosen in the Autumn and together with other selected finalists will be introduced to Homes England development partners to explore the possibility of developing bids for a series of homes on Homes England land.

The six finalists have each received £40,000 of funding to help them develop detailed plans.